13D12N China Imperial Cities Beijing / Xian / Nanjing / Suzhou / Shanghai

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your private tour guide & driver. They will accompany you and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Beijing.

Highlights : Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Lizexiang Pearl Store.

• Tiananmen Square (50 minutes):
  
  • Tiananmen Square is the largest city square in the centre of Beijing, named after the Tiananmen (literally, Gate of Heavenly Peace) which sits to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City. It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several key events in Chinese history. As the world's largest city square and enduring symbol of China's national pride, it is surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), Museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.


• The Forbidden City (2 hours):
  
  • The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors between and 1911.This "city within a city" is a World Heritage Site, and is the largest and the best preserved ancient imperial architecture complex in the world, with great square, halls and gates contrast with intricate halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are all important treasures of ancient China.


• Temple of Heaven (1.5 hours):
  
  • Built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings where emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties visited for annual ceremonies of pray for good harvests. Located in the south of Central Beijing, it covers an area of 273 hectares. Temple of Heaven was enrolled as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998.Overnight in Beijing.

Highlights : Shahe Cloisonne Factory, The Mutianyu Great Wall (with round way cable car).

• Shahe Cloisonne Factory :
  
  • Sha He Cloisonne Factory manufactures and sells high quality Cloisonne ware. High quality Cloisonne also called "Copper - body and wire inlaid Enamel" requires an elaborate and complicated manufacturing process including hammering, filigree welding, enamel filling, surface polishing and gilding. This is a popular place for those looking for special, quality souvenirs. There is no pressure to buy!


• The Mutianyu Great Wall (with round way cable car) (2 hours):
  
  • This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a about 2.5 hours drive from downtown Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.


• Hepingmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant :
  
  • Beijing Roast Duck is renowned as the most delicious food of Beijing while Quanjude Restaurants enjoy a high reputation for its Beijing roast duck. Quanjude restaurants have developed their own technique and are famous for outstanding quality. Hepingmen Quanjude restaurant was established in 1979 and located beside Hepingmen Gate (Peace Gate).Overnight in Beijing.

Highlights: Hutong Tour in Xicheng District, Summer Palace with boat Cruise and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, 798 Art District.

• Hutong Tour in Xicheng District (1 hour):
  
  
  • Hutong is a maze of historic alleyways with old single storey traditional courtyard houses, which are now fast disappearing. In this one hour tour, you can hop on a rickshaw to ride through the narrow alleys as well as visit a local family then walk on the Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge) and find out about the different thresholds of the courtyards.


• Summer Palace with boat Cruise and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony (2 hours):
  
  • The palace is about 12 kilometers northwest of the city center and is equally as famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called 'Yiheyuan' (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. It is the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China and one of Beijing's premier attractions. It is also possible to cruise on the lake which takes 10 minutes by the ferry boat


• 798 Art District (1.5 hours):
  
  • Since 2002, the large number of artists' studios and contemporary art institutions began stationed here, and rented a scale of idle factories, and gradually developed into a gallery, the Arts Centre, artists' studios, design companies, fashion shops, bars and other catering space. The 798 Art District has promoted to the nation's largest and most influential international arts in recent years.

Overnight in Beijing.

Highlights: Hotel to Beijing Airport Transfer, Domestic Flight Beijing to Xian (Economy class), Xian Airport to Hotel Transfer, Shaanxi History Museum, Xian City Wall with Bicycle.

• Shaanxi History Museum (1.5 hours):
  
  • The history of Shaanxi is said to be the history of China, and this museum is quite simply one of the nation's best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. Most of the item labels are in English, although some other information on the exhibitions is not, but your guide can help here. Wear comfortable walking shoes.


• Xian City Wall with Bicycle (1.5 hours):
  
  • The walls, ramparts, gates and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defenses still around. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city centre, it is a major landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest of the city defense systems in China. We operate this with bicycle. If the weather is not good for biking on the city wall, we will substitute a visit to the Bell Tower. Your guide will be very glad to take you the Bell Tower after you have been to look at the city wall.

Overnight in Xian.

Highlights: The Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian Imperial Fine Arts center, Great Mosque.

• The Terracotta Warriors and Horses (2 hours):
  
  • Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. Photos (no flash) are allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes.


• Big Wild Goose Pagoda (1 hour):
  
  • A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals.


• Xian Imperial Fine Arts Center:
  
  • Xian Imperial Fine Arts mainly manufactures jade carvings and lacquer ware. You can learn how the fine Chinese jade carved and the function of jade.


• Great Mosque (1 hour):
  
  • In the heart of Xian's Muslim quarter, close to the city centre, this is one of the largest Islamic mosques in China. Remarkable for the combination of Chinese architecture with Islamic practice, the courtyards align from east to west facing Mecca. The pavilions, halls and gateways are wonderfully decorated, and this is an active place of worship for the Hui descendants of Silk Road traders and travelers.

Overnight in Xian.

Highlights: Hotel to Xian Airport Transfer, Domestic Flight Xian to Najing (Economy class), Nanjing Airport to Hotel Transfer, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Confucius Temple, Zhonghua Gate.

• Zhonghua Gate:
  
  • Zhonghua Men Gate is the largest castle-style gate among the 13 ancient city gates in Nanjing. It's the best preserved and, architecturally, most complicated ancient castle in the world. The elaborately designed castle contains three closed courtyards and four arched gates serving as entrances to the city.


• Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum :
  
  • The elaborate layout of the numerous tomb structures in the Mingxiaoling mausoleum is a fine example of ancient China's royal tomb construction, which was greatly influenced by the traditional Chinese theory of geomantic omen on location. This mausoleum also illustrates the predominant thought of power that dominated ancient China for over 5,000 years.


• Confucius Temple:
  
  • The Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) was built in the year 1034 and dedicated to worshiping the great philosopher Confucius. Many shops, restaurants and bars, have been included with the temple to make it a commercial and entertainment center combining rich culture and arts. The Dacheng Hall in Fuzimiao scenic area has is the largest figure of Confucius in China. The largest river in the city - Qin Huai River flow in front of the Confucius Temple.

Overnight in Nanjing.

Highlights: Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, Hotel to Train station Transfer (Nanjing), Train station to Hotel Transfer (Suzhou).

• Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge:
  
  • This is the first bridge independently designed and constructed by the Chinese themselves. The bridge was added to the Guinness World Records as the world's longest bridge featuring the dual functions of a highway and a railway.
    
    Overnight in Suzhou.

Highlights: Humble Administrators Garden, The Grand Canal (Cruising by Hand-operated Boat), Rickshaw ride, The No.1 Silk Factory.

• Humble Administrators Garden (1.5 hours):
  
  • The garden is the best representative of Chinese classical gardens, constructed in the Ming dynasty, which focuses on a central pond with pavilions, terraces, chambers, and towers located nearby, the garden is divided into three parts: the eastern, middle and western parts. At 5 hectares the largest of these beautiful gardens, it is one of the most famous one. It provides everyone with pleasure. Don't miss the Garden Museum - actually don't miss any of these lovely places. You may wear comfortable shoes, as there's a lot of walking here.


• The Grand Canal - Cruising by Motor Boat (40 minutes):
  
  • The Grand Canal ranks alongside the Great Wall of China as the country's greatest engineering achievement and it is the longest man-made waterway in the world. Cruising on the Canal (about 30 - 40 minutes), you can see the local peoples' life. Known as the land of rice and fish, Suzhou city has a network of picturesque lakes and canals both large and small, which all link in eventually to the Grand Canal. The view from the little boats that ply the smaller canals is enchanting, whilst the traffic on the Grand Canal reminds you of Suzhou that it was the original source of the 'sea' silk road.


• Rickshaw ride (1.5 hours):
  
  • Through the old streets & Hutongs in Suzhou, you will see local people's life.


• The No.1 Silk Factory (1 hour):
  
  • Suzhou is famous for its silk produts. Tourists may go and see how the silk is processed from worm to the final product, and some of the silk history of in China. There's also an opportunity to buy something beautiful from the showroom, or just enjoy the goods on display.

Overnight in Suzhou.

Highlights: Tongli, Tongli Cruise, Our guide and driver will escort you from Suzhou to Shanghai.Tongli town has a history of more than one thousand years. There are over hundreds of gardens established in Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty, temples, cartilages and former residence of eminent souls. Fifteen rivers divide the town into seven islands and forty-nine sets of historic bridges connect the town as a whole.

• Tongli Cruise (30 minutes):
  
  • Tongli Cruise is the best way to experience this water town.


• Tongli Nanyuan Tea House:
  
  • The Tea House was build with traditional brick. The wooden facade is decorated in the Qing Dynasty style, and there are two floors with a total area of about 400 square meters. Tea House serves many types of tea including black teas, green teas, and scented teas. The tea house also provides smoked green beans, dried carrots and other refreshments. Patrons are entertained by traditional performances.

Overnight in Shanghai.

Highlights: Yuyuan Garden, The Bund, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, The Shanghai World- Financial Center

• Yuyuan Garden (1 hour):
  
  • Yuyuan Garden is located in the center of Shanghai old quarters. It was a private garden built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty, with typical Chinese classic architecture and style. The complex covers an area of 2 hectares, with rockeries, pavilions, ponds and corridors. Yuyuan Garden is surrounding by a busy market place, where visitors can find everything from popular local snacks, handicrafts, antiques and souvenirs to some famous time-honored restaurants.


• The Bund (40 minutes):
  
  • This 1.5-kilometer-long embankment runs along the western bank of Huangpu River. On its west side it is the "architecture gallery" with 52 well-preserved old European style buildings. Once the major trading and commercial center of old Shanghai, the Bund has now taken on new vitality, with futuristic developments, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do-and by night it's magic!


• Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall (1 hour):
  
  • A short walk across Renmin Square from the Shanghai Museum, this is a fascinating insight into Shanghai's future. The 2nd floor has a giant walkaround model of the city, and other floors have great displays, interactive exhibitions and walkthroughs of aspects such as the ports, greening, leisure etc.


• The Shanghai World Financial Center (40 minutes):
  
  • Shanghai World Financial Center is located in Pudong District, reaching a height of 492 meters (1,615 feet). It is now a new landmark of prosperous Shanghai. It was the second tallest building in the world when it was completed in 2007. Its observation deck, at 474 meters (1,555 feet) above the ground, is currently the tallest in the world. The multi-function skyscraper consists of hotels, apartments, restaurants, shopping malls, offices and observation decks.

Overnight in Shanghai.

Highlights: Be a Shanghainese.

• Be a Shanghainese (5 hours):
  
  • This tour will give you a chance to experience the real life of Shanghainese and to know how they think and what they do. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and transfer to Caoyang New Neighbourhood, the first new-birth neighbourhood for workers since the national liberation in 1952. After that, you will visit a local food market and call on a local residence to make dumplings with the owners. Then, have your lunch there. After lunch, you will be transferred back to your hotel after the tour.

Overnight in Shanghai.

After breakfast, enjoy your day at leisure until your transfer to Shanghai airport in time for your onwards departure flight.